Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to affirm its role as a Conservation University with International Reputation by actively initiating and participating in cross-sectoral dialogues on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through structured collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, academia, and youth leaders, UNNES positions itself as a driving force in advancing national sustainability policies and practices.
Institutional Commitment to SDG Dialogue
UNNES has established a formal institutional framework to lead SDG coordination through the UNNES SDGs Center, created under Rector’s Decree No. T/4356/UN37/HK.02/2024. The Center is responsible for coordinating research, education, and community engagement in alignment with the SDGs, while also building networks with government institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners.
“UNNES believes that sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation. Cross-sectoral dialogue allows evidence from research and community practice to directly shape national policy,” stated the Director of the UNNES SDGs Center.
UNNES Hosts the 4th National Student Leaders Sustainability Meeting 2024
A flagship example of UNNES’s leadership in initiating national SDG dialogues is the 4th National Student Leaders Sustainability Meeting, hosted at the UNNES campus in December 2024.
The event brought together 83 student leaders from 49 universities across Indonesia and international participants from Ghana and Timor-Leste, uniting future changemakers under the theme “Empowering Student Leaders: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Indonesia Emas.”
Jointly organized by the Subdirectorate of Conservation and Universitas Indonesia GreenMetric (UIGM), the conference featured:
- Panel discussions with experts from BKSDA Central Java, environmental NGOs, and academic institutions;
- Sustainability workshops and environmental action projects led by student teams;
- A joint declaration on sustainability leadership, committing universities to green governance and SDG-aligned education.
Photo: Participants of the 4th National Student Leaders Sustainability Meeting 2024 at UNNES.
Through this event, UNNES acted not merely as a host, but as an initiator of inter-sectoral collaboration, aligning academic discourse, youth action, and government policy within one platform.
Collaboration with Government and NGOs
Beyond student forums, UNNES consistently engages in policy-oriented dialogues involving government institutions and NGOs. Examples include:
- Public Participation Forum on the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) with Kominfo and Badan Intelijen Negara (BIN) — focusing on legal modernization and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions;
- Regional SDG Dialogue with Bappeda Central Java — addressing food security, local innovation systems, and legal literacy;
- Partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) — promoting plastic-free campuses and water conservation;
- Engagement with UN Information Centre (UNIC) Jakarta — advancing youth SDG literacy campaigns.
These initiatives underscore UNNES’s strategic role as a bridge between policy, education, and community practice, strengthening Indonesia’s collective capacity for sustainable transformation.
Expanding Regional and International SDG Engagement
UNNES’s involvement extends to the regional and international level through collaborations under the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking Network and partnerships with ASEAN and African universities.
The 2024 meeting also welcomed visiting delegates from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana) and Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (Timor-Leste), establishing new pathways for South-South cooperation on sustainability education.
“This meeting proves that UNNES is not only a participant but also a convener of global SDG dialogues that connect youth, universities, and policymakers,” said the UNNES Vice Rector for Planning and Partnership.
